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By MATTHEW DALY, ALEXA ST. JOHN and MATTHEW BROWN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package passed by House Republicans early Thursday would gut clean energy tax credits that Democrats approved three years ago while supporting increased mining, drilling and other traditional energy production.

A marathon session that began Wednesday resulted in 1,100-plus page legislation that curbs billions of dollars in spending across food assistance, student loans, Medicaid and action to address climate change.

The bill, which now heads to the Senate, repeals or phases out more quickly clean energy tax credits passed in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act during former President Joe Biden’s term. Biden’s climate law has been considered monumental for the clean energy transition, but the House bill effectively renders moot much of the law’s incentives for renewable energy such as wind and solar power.

Clean energy advocates said the bill walks back the largest government investment in clean energy in history.

“In a bid to cut taxes for billionaires and provide a grab bag of goodies to Big Oil, the majority in the House took a sledgehammer to clean energy tax credits and to the protection of our public lands,” said Christy Goldfuss, executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“These credits are delivering billions of dollars in new investments in homegrown American energy — creating jobs, lowering energy costs and addressing the climate crisis that is fueling floods, fires and heat waves,” Goldfuss said.

President Donald Trump celebrated the bill’s passage, calling it “arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country.” Trump appealed to the Senate to pass the measure as soon as possible and send it to his desk.

The Senate hopes to wrap up its version by early July. At least four Republican senators, led by Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have urged continuation of…

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A hidden pollutant that contaminates Southern California’s nighttime air is much more prevalent than previously thought, suggesting that air quality alerts underestimate the health effects of breathing smoggy air, a study released Wednesday reported.

Researchers at Caltech and other academic institutions found that levels of ammonium nitrate made up half of the fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) on the region’s worst air days but are unaccounted for by air pollution control agencies. This means air quality indexes of “good,” “moderate,” “unhealthy,” or “hazardous” released to the public may be worse than indicated.

“When PM2.5 is measured and ammonium nitrate levels are high, the PM2.5 is underestimated because most of it evaporates before it is measured,” wrote the lead author of the study published in “Science Advances” on May 21, Ryan Ward. He did the work while a graduate student at Caltech in Pasadena and is now a post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University in New York.

PM2.5 are tiny pollution aerosols that originate from tailpipes of cars, trucks, ships in port and also fossil-fuel powered garden equipment. These particles can lodge deep into the lungs and the brain and are linked to poor health outcomes.

Scientists and medical doctors have known for at least 20 years that breathing smog peppered with high PM2.5 levels is linked to cardiovascular issues, respiratory problems, and premature death. Chronic exposure to PM2.5, the size of 2.5 micro meters or less, and the slightly larger variety, PM10 that’s 10 micro meters leads to hospitalizations, higher incidents of asthma and COPD and even death, according to a recent article by Dr. Olawale Amubieya, pulmonologist and junior faculty in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UCLA Health.

Ward wrote that it’s not known if this inorganic chemical is more toxic than the other compounds found within PM2.5, he said, adding that in total, microscopic particulate…

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Despite voters’ rejection of a ballot measure last fall to amend the state constitution to abolish involuntary prison labor, Assemblymember Isaac Bryan of Los Angeles believes he can get two bills passed that would improve wages for individuals inside jail and prison.

“It’s an interesting moment,” said Bryan, vice chair of the Legislative Black caucus, as he spoke of the Los Angeles fires and the public recognition of hard-working incarcerated fire crews.

“I think that reopened this conversation in the consciousness for folks about what incarcerated labor can look like and how undignified not paying folks a human wage — you know, a basic wage that is dignified — what that says about all of us.”

His Assembly Bill 247 would impose $19 per hour pay for incarcerated firefighters whenever their work assignment places them in active fire incidents.

“Very few people realize they make $5 to $10 a day doing that work, and so legislation to increase those wages has received kind of resounding support,” said Bryan.

The other measure, AB 248, doesn’t necessarily have an immediate price tag, but it would remove a decades-old statewide wage cap of $2 per eight-hour shift for county jail inmate workers — many of whom have not been convicted of any crimes and are awaiting trial.

Both of Bryan’s measures build on the Black Caucus’ efforts over the past several years to tackle the state’s history of discrimination against African Americans and to implement recommendations from the California Reparations Task Force.

In the immediate post-Civil War era, California prisons exploited incarcerated laborers — mostly Black and Indigenous — under threat of punishment. The task force described current prisoner work assignments as “state-sanctioned…

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Long Beach is getting its barbecue grub on this weekend with a festival that organizers hope will put the city on the map as one of the best grilling cities in the Southland.

“One of our goals is to change the narrative of West Coast barbecue,” said Ian Mafnas, co-organizer of the third annual Long Beach BBQ Festival.

“It’s 30 of the best pitmasters in Southern California coming together to collaborate and produce some really good barbecue,” he added.

Set to take place at Shoreline park May 23-24, the two day weekend event will feature about two dozen barbecue slingers grilling all sorts of meat styles at the picturesque Shoreline Aquatic Park. Also on hand will be craft vendors, whiskey tasting, music, dancing and games.

“We’re hoping to inspire and create a sense of barbecue community,” said Mafnas, who also owns a barbecue restaurant in the city named Axiom Kitchen Smoked Meats & BBQ

Barbecue fans can expect to taste all sorts of styles, from Texas to California barbecue, which is what Mafnas focuses on at his Long Beach spot.

“I like to say Axiom Kitchen is California barbecue because what separates us from everyone else is that we don’t just use salt and pepper. I use a homemade rub made from about eight different herbs and spices and then we also use an herb finishing oil that goes on top of the meat. It’s savory, smokey, umami goodness,” he said.

Another unique barbecue spot coming to Long Beach from its Inland Empire home is El Guero Y La Flaca, which is a Texas-inspired barbecue restaurant that also incorporates Cuban, Colombian and Mexican spices. The restaurant has participated in the festival since its inception.

“We do things like Cuban espresso rib rub, we do a lechon pulled pork, our brisket has Mexican spices in it. Everything is a little different, the only thing that’s traditional are our sides,” said Justin Escobedo, who along with his wife Jessica own the eatery.

“We love this festival. They’ve helped us…

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Topline:

Why now: Rep. Young Kim, who represents parts of northern Orange County in the 40th congressional district, co-introduced a bill that would direct the U.S. Postal Service to create ZIP codes for several California communities, including unincorporated North Tustin.

Why it matters: Kim said North Tustin’s unincorporated status causes confusion for taxes and mail. The community shares one of its ZIP codes with Santa Ana, which has among the highest sales tax rates in the county at 9.25%. For comparison, most of Orange County has a 7.75% sales tax rate. The Foothill Communities Association, whose president supported the bill, didn’t immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.

The backstory:  Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said in a statement that people in North Tustin have been paying excess local taxes for far too long. “They never voted for the taxes, raising a constitutional concern of taxation without representation,” Wagner said.

The details: The bill also calls for ZIP codes in Hidden Hills and Industry. A similar bill, also co-introduced by Kim, passed the House of Representatives last December but stalled in the Senate.

What’s next: The bill is scheduled to go before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday. You can find a livestream link here.

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Summer is almost here and with the delightful local weather, it’s time to get out of the house and go out and do something fun. So to help you decide how to spend your days outdoors, here are 12 ideas for fun stuff to do this summer.

Get on the ocean

There’s no need to be an official sea captain to get out on the water and drive your own boat in the open ocean. If that sounds like an adventure you can sail into the you can rent a boat at places like Marina Del Rey Boat Rentals. You just rent a boat by the hour, they’ll give you a quick safety lesson, hand you the keys and off to the open ocean you go.

Information: marinadelreyboatrentals.com

Get your chili on

Old Town Tustin welcomes the summer every year with its annual Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off. Expect to try all kinds of chilis plus there will be live music, beer and wine gardens and vendor booths. It takes place 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 1 in Old Town Tustin between El Camino Real and Main Street.

Information: tustinca.org

Go to a lake

While it may look like it’s a world away from the city, Lake Arrowhead is a good summer getaway that can even be done in a one day trip. It’s located in the San Bernardino National Forest and visitors can go on lake tours, go hiking, or check out restaurants and do some shopping at a center that surrounds the lake. And if you want to make it an overnight trip, there are cabins for rent.

Information: lakearrowhead.com

Gondola ride

You don’t have to travel to Venice, Italy, for a romantic gondola ride, just head over to Long Beach and book a boat at Gondola Gateway. The company will take people on various cruises include around the romantic Naples Canals.

Information: Gondola Gateway is at 5437 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, gondolagetawayinc.com.

Irish Fair

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t the only time we can celebrate Irish culture because Wilson Park in Torrance is turning into one big green outdoor party at the Irish Fair Music Festival. The fair takes place…

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KeyBank – which is based in Cleveland but has been expanding into the California market – recently provided more than $50 million in construction and low-income housing tax credit financing for two affordable housing projects in Los Angeles.

The first project, at 121 N. Mathews St. in Boyle Heights, will be four stories featuring six one-bedroom apartments, 33 two-bedroom apartments and a manager’s unit. Four units will be reserved for people earning 30% of the area median income (AMI). In 2024, for a two-person household that equated to $33,300, according to the L.A. County Department of Regional Planning.

Another four will go to those with 50% AMI ($55,450 for two people); 23 units will be at 60% AMI ($66,540 for two people); and then eight units will go to 80% AMI ($88,800 for two people).

The next project, 6018 Brynhurst Ave. in Hyde Park, will be a four-story 50 unit building with seven one bedrooms, 42 two bedrooms and a manager’s unit. Similar to the first project, the majority of units – in this case, 29 – will go to households earing 60% AMI. Five units will be reserved for 30% AMI, another five will be for 50% AMI and 10 will be at 80% AMI.

Matthew Haas, a senior relationship manager for KeyBank’s Community Development Lending and Investment division, said these projects caught his eye for several reasons including the sites’ proximities to L.A. Metro rail stations and an impressive cost per unit. Developed by Irvine-based real estate firm HVN Development, the projects see an average cost per unit of about $333,000. Meanwhile, the cost per unit to build affordable housing in L.A. “regularly tops $1 million,” according to real estate insights platform CoStar News.

Haas said he was excited to partner with HVN Development, noting that the firm’s Chief Executive Tommy Beadel is “very committed in trying to relieve the crisis that’s happening in the county of LA.”

Additionally, Haas pointed out the need for more dense housing…

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Not so long ago, Lillian Kahan would’ve been an oddity.

She’s 104 years old (“104 and a half,” she corrects), and, until recently, a life of such length was a statistical quirk, rare enough to warrant news coverage or scientific research or at least a cupcake at the local senior center.

These days that’s only half true. Kahan’s age still makes news, and scientists increasingly are interested in people like her. She still gets the odd cupcake.

But the attention isn’t coming because she’s so uncommon. It’s because she’s not.

In fact, being a Kahan – living to 100 and beyond – might be a glimpse of the future.

“Being this old is fun,” Kahan said. “I recommend it.”

Welcome to Ageville

The number of centenarians worldwide has more than doubled over the past 25 years and demographers at the United Nations project that the 100-something crowd will quadruple by mid-century. Today, the biggest centenarian populations are in Japan (146,000) and the United States (108,000). But, soon, countries like China and India, where the overall populations are huge but the aging curve is only now starting to trend upward, will have even bigger 100-something age bubbles. By 2054, nearly 4 million people around the world will be 100 or older.

The trend is expected to be even more pronounced locally. The state projects that from now until 2050, the ranks of centenarians will jump more than fivefold in each of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Of course, centenarians are just the tip of a bigger demographic spear.

Populations are aging up in most advanced economies, at a rate never before seen in human history. In many countries, older people already outnumber children or they’re expected to in the near future. Aging demographics are reshaping everything from retirement plans and immigration patterns to diaper sales and popular ideals about beauty.

Like many aspects of the aging boom, the rise of centenarians is a mixed…

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